As our world becomes more digitized, the files we store on our computers are becoming increasingly more important. Instead of keeping handwritten letters in a shoebox, we correspond with family members using e-mail. If we use digital cameras, we often keep our photo albums on our computers.
Unfortunately, computers (and particularly the hard disk drives that hold your files) can fail. Your computer might run for a decade with no problems, or it could fail tomorrow there's no way to tell. To make sure you don't lose important files if your computer stops working, you should back up your computer on a regular basis. The backup process copies your files to a safe place so that even if your computer fails, you won't lose them.
Choose backup storage
It doesn't make sense to back up your files to the hard disk drive inside your computer, because if your computer were to fail, you would also lose your backup. Instead, you should back up your files to an external hard disk drive or removable disk drive, such as a CD. If your computer does fail, you can then connect the external hard disk drive or use the CDs to restore your files to your new or repaired computer. (This article describes how to back up your files to an external hard disk drive, which is the easiest way to do a full backup of all your files. If you decide to use CDs, you'll need to choose which files to back up and then manually insert and remove CDs as they are filled.)
If you decide to get an external hard disk drive, choose one that is at least as large as the hard disk drive inside your computer. For example, if your computer has a 100-gigabyte (GB) hard disk drive, choose a 100-GB or larger external hard disk drive. Then connect the external hard disk drive to your computer. Make a note of the drive letter (such as E:, F:, or G:) assigned to your new hard disk drive.
With an external hard disk drive, you can manually back up your files, or you can schedule automatic weekly backups.
Manually back up your files
To back up your files to an external hard disk drive
1. Click Start, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup. If the Backup option does not appear on the System Tools menu, you can install it.
2. The Backup or Restore Wizard appears. Click Next.
3. On the Backup or Restore page, click Next.
4. On the What to Back Up page, click All information on this computer, and then click Next.
5. On the Backup Type, Destination, and Name page, click Choose a place to save your backup, and select your external hard disk drive. Then click Next.
6. On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, click Finish.
7. Windows Backup saves a copy of your files to your external hard disk drive. When the backup is complete, click Close.
If your computer stops responding, you will be able to restore your files to the state they were in when you completed the backup. However, any new files you have created and any changes you have made to existing files since the backup occurred will not be saved unless you back up your files again. For best results, back up your files every week or immediately after creating important files, such as after you copy pictures from your digital camera.
For an additional layer of protection, purchase a second external hard disk drive and perform another backup of your hard disk drive. Store this external hard disk drive in a different location, such as at a family member's house, to protect your files from theft, fire, or natural disasters that might damage both your computer and your backup.
Schedule backups
If you're busy, you might not have time to manually back up your files every week. Fortunately, you can schedule backups to occur automatically. This takes a few minutes to set up, but once you've done so, you'll be protected indefinitely.
To schedule a weekly backup
1. Click Start, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup. If the Backup option does not appear on the System Tools menu, you can install it.
2. The Backup or Restore Wizard appears. Click Next.
3. On the Backup or Restore page, click Next.
4. On the What to Back Up page, click All information on this computer, and then click Next.
5. On the Backup Type, Destination, and Name page, click Choose a place to save your backup, and select your external hard disk drive. Then click Next.
6. On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, click Advanced.
7. On the Type of Backup page, click Next.
8. On the How to Back Up page, click Next.
9. On the Backup Options page, select Replace the existing backups. Then click Next.
10. On the When to Back Up page, click Later. In the Job name box, type Backup. Then click Set Schedule.
11. On the Schedule tab in the Schedule Job dialog box, click the Schedule Task list, and then click Weekly.
12. In the Start time box, specify a time of day when your computer will not be used for several hours, such as 3:00 AM. In the Schedule Task Weekly area, select the day of the week you want to back up your files. If you are backing up files overnight, remember to leave your computer running the night before.
13. Click the Settings tab. Select the Wake the computer to run this task check box.
14. Click OK.
15. In the Set Account Information dialog box, type your password in both the Password and Confirm password fields. Then click OK.
16. On the When to Back Up page, click Next.
17. In the Set Account Information dialog box, type your password in both the Password and Confirm password fields. Then click OK.
18. In the Account Information Warning dialog box, click OK.
19. On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, click Finish.
Your computer will automatically back up your files to your external hard disk drive every week at the time you specified.
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